A preferred program for Kansas youngsters to get free admission to a number of the state’s coolest sights is coming again this summer time.
Sunflower Summer season — a Kansas State Division of Training initiative that gave over 70,000 Kansans free entry to museums, parks and different sights across the state in 2022 — is funded for the following few summers, schooling commissioner Randy Watson introduced Tuesday.
“We’ll be doing it once more, and we’re enthusiastic about it,” Watson advised the Kansas State Division of Training.
This is what you should know.
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Editorial:Sunflower Summer season program is a giant success
How does Sunflower Summer season work?
The state schooling division had used federal COVID-19 reduction funding to begin Sunflower Summer season in 2021, in an effort to verify all Kansas college students had entry to summer time enrichment alternatives.
This yr, Gov. Laura Kelly determined to reallocate unused federal reduction funds for Kansas’ personal faculties to the state schooling division in order that it may proceed to supply Sunflower Summer season.
To get free admission to Kansas sights, dad and mom or different adults obtain the Sunflower Summer season app on their telephone and register themselves and their youngsters. The app then gives a single-use, free ticket for the kid, in addition to free tickets for as much as two accompanying adults, to attend sights across the state.
Extra:For some Kansas college students, summer time faculty (or enrichment) might be their saving grace
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In 2021, about 70 totally different sights — together with the Kansas Cosmosphere, Kansas Youngsters’s Discovery Heart, the Eisenhower Presidential Library and numerous zoos — participated within the state program.
Denise Kuehler, a KSDE spokesperson, mentioned the division will not be but able to share extra info apart from to say Sunflower Summer season is coming, however Watson in September advised the Kansas State Board of Training that suggestions from venues in 2021 was outstanding.
Many places known as it the very best program that they had ever participated in, Watson mentioned, and a number of other even provided different freebies or discounted admission for future admission to Sunflower Summer season households.
Who can use Sunflower Summer season?
This system is open to any baby in Kansas, no matter their faculty, so long as they’re between ages 4 and 18 and have not graduated from highschool.
“Public, personal faculty, homeschool — it does not matter,” Watson mentioned. “They only need to be of faculty age.”
As much as adults accompanying a toddler, together with dad and mom, grandparents, babysitters, daycare lecturers and different guardians, can also obtain free admission to sights by way of this system, Watson mentioned.
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“Anybody who is anxious about that scholar can take these college students to the Topeka Zoo, or to the Cosmosphere or (Kansas Division of) Wildlife and Parks at Kanopolis or Glen Elder,” Watson mentioned.
When does Sunflower Summer season begin?
Final yr, the Sunflower Summer season program did not get began till July 1, so it solely ran for just a little over a month earlier than the beginning of faculty in mid-August.
Nonetheless, about 43,000 Kansas youngsters and 28,000 adults have been in a position to make use of this system to get free admission to sights across the state.
Individuals got here from every of Kansas’ 104 counties, Watson reported in September 2021, in visiting over 70 sights provided that summer time, and he mentioned he anticipated extra households and venues would have participated if that they had recognized extra about this system.
Extra:In search of a summer time journey? Put these eight Kansas out of doors sights in your listing.
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Kelly’s choice on allocating the federal reduction additionally funds this system for summers 2023 and 2024. For 2022, Sunflower Summer season is slated to begin proper after Memorial Day, Watson mentioned, and can run by way of early August.
“Or till the cash runs out, which might be a great factor to have, proper?” Watson mentioned.
Rafael Garcia is an schooling reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He could be reached at rgarcia@cjonline.com. Comply with him on Twitter at @byRafaelGarcia.
CHARLOTTE — The Panthers are getting one receiver back and losing another for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs.
Rookie wideout Jalen Coker, who has started in recent weeks, is inactive this week after a quadriceps injury suffered in practice Thursday.
The Panthers are getting veteran Adam Thielen back on the field this week. He’s been out since a hamstring injury in Week 3 on a long touchdown pass from Andy Dalton.
Johnson suffered a concussion in Germany and practiced this week.
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The Panthers brought wide receiver Dan Chisena and outside linebacker Kenny Dyson up from the practice squad for depth purposes.
Click here to view the full injury report | Depth Chart | Roster
The Liberty Flames (5-1) face the Kansas State Wildcats (4-1) on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at Virgin Islands Sport & Fitness Center. It begins at 8:00 PM ET on ESPN+.
Kansas State won at home over George Washington 83-71 last time out, and was led by David N’Guessan (17 PTS, 9 REB, 62.5 FG%) and Dug McDaniel (13 PTS, 5 AST, 2 STL, 45.45 FG%).
Liberty beat Louisiana 89-69 at home in its last game. Its top scorers were Kaden Metheny (20 PTS, 70 FG%, 4-6 from 3PT) and Taelon Peter (12 PTS, 62.5 FG%).
Prepare for this matchup with everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s college hoops action.
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Kansas State Wildcats vs. Liberty Flames
Game day: Sunday, November 24, 2024
Game time: 8:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN+
Live stream: ESPN+ – Watch NOW
NCAA Basketball Odds and Betting Lines
Spread: Kansas State -2.5
Total: 134.5
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Devin Neal put Kansas on his back with four touchdowns on his Senior Day as the Jayhawks rolled past #16 Colorado 37-21 for their third straight ranked win. Kansas kept its bowl eligibility hopes alive heading into its final game of the season.
Neal rushed for 207 yards on 37 carries and added 80 yards through the air. Jalon Daniels completed 14 of his 21 passes for 189 yards, and the defense made enough plays to come out with a win.
First quarter
Kansas got on the board first, relying on Devin Neal. He got the Jayhawks going on the ground before taking a quick pass out of the backfield for 51 yards to the house. Neal got four touches on six plays as Kansas took an early 7-0 lead.
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The dream start continued for the Jayhawks as the defense forced a three-and-out. Kansas bottled up two screens before Shedeur Sanders missed Travis Hunter on third down, and Colorado punted.
The Jayhawks had to settle for three points on their next drive, but they controlled the clock over a 7:46 possession. Sevion Morrison got five carries while Daniels picked up 20 yards on a scramble. The drive eventually stalled, and Tabor Allen hit a 24-yard field goal.
Colorado got its offense going on its second drive. Sanders completed three passes as the Buffaloes drove into Kansas territory.
Second quarter
The Buffaloes drive quickly came to an end after Tommy Dunn stopped Dallan Hayden in the backfield for a loss on third down. The Jayhawks stopped the run again on fourth down, taking over at their 41 yard line.
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Kansas took complete control, going down the field with ease. Daniels converted a third down with his legs, and found Trevor Kardell for a 23-yard pickup to put the Jayhawks into the red zone. Neal got into the end zone from nine yards out to give Kansas a 17-0 lead with 9:02 to play in the first half.
Colorado broke into the scoring column in quick fashion. Sanders picked up 17 yards on a scramble, then hit Hunter on a screen, who took it 51 yards for a touchdown.
Morrison picked up a 15-yard run before Neal gained 47 yards on a wildcat carry to get the ball into the red zone. However, Kansas wasn’t able to get into the endzone, with Allen hitting a 23-yarder to extend the Jayhawks’ lead to 20-7.
The Buffaloes inched closer as Sanders looked impressive. After a low, late hit, Sanders completed passes of 16, 25, and 19 yards. Drelon Miller made a pair of tough catches, including the 19-yard touchdown to cut Kansas’ lead to 20-14.
Kansas saw a positive two-minute drill, but once again had to settle for a field goal. Daniels picked up 31 yards on a QB draw and Neal got the Jayhawks into the red zone. However, Daniels threw incompletions on second and third and goal from the two. Allen made a 25-yard field goal to give Kansas a 23-14 lead heading into the half.
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Third quarter
Colorado got a 43-yard kickoff return to open a touchdown drive to put the Buffaloes right back in it. Sanders connected with Hunter for another touchdown, this time he was left open for a 26-yard touchdown to make the score 23-21.
Kansas went on a 10-play drive, getting whatever it wanted on the ground. Neal continued to run with his head on fire, picking up multiple 10-plus yard carries. He scored his third touchdown of the day, eventually getting into the end zone after three carries from inside the five to give the Jayhawks some breathing room, 30-21.
The Jayhawks defense got a stop for the first time in a while to help Kansas continue to build momentum. Dean Miller made a pair of big plays, stuffing a jet touch pass and getting pressure to Sanders as Kansas sacked him for the first time. Colorado punted, giving the Jayhawks the ball at their own 30.
Kansas’ offense continued to get whatever it wanted. The Jayhawks dialed up a couple of nifty plays to their tight ends. Daniels made a play with his legs again, picking up 12 yards before hitting Neal out of the backfield for 15 as Kansas drove into the red zone at the end of the quarter.
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Fourth quarter
Neal put the team on his back, rushing five straight times to get in the end zone for his fourth touchdown. He picked up a fourth-down conversion before getting into the end zone from two yards out to give Kansas a 37-21 lead with 11:47 to play.
Colorado drove into Kansas territory, but the Jayhawks defense bore down and forced a turnover on downs. The drive took 5:25 off the clock as Kansas looked to close in on another ranked win.
Kansas ran out the remaining 6:22, relying on Neal to close out the game.
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